Sound Masking In A Busy Office
Many offices are using open plan office layout resulting in superior use of space and better communication flow. However, the 50 million employees working in those cubicles are challenged by poor acoustic characteristics of the open plan.
Conventional walls have now given way to modular workstations, more workers are making use of the same space, and everybody is seated near one another. But you will also see that, the latest building methods, absorptive actions, and quieter office equipment have considerably lowered the surrounding sound level and office noise has been reduced considerably.
An answer to the problem which has proven to be especially effective is to mask the sound with what is termed "white noise". Sound masking systems consist of speakers which emit unstructured sound throughout a factory or office. This is often described as sounding like the humming of a gentle breeze.
The main benefit of sound masking includes reduced conversational distractions and a normally more relaxed working atmosphere. The sound masking system can be easily installed in new or existing facilities of any dimension, providing an efficient way of tackling acoustic troubles at small cost and without serious modification.
If you have ever tried running the water in the sink while attempting to talk with someone in an adjoining room, you are aware of the phenomenon of sound masking. Though you know that the other person is talking, it is very difficult to understand what they are saying because of the increased amount of sound in your area produced by the running water.
At this point, we should discuss the definition of a "noise floor". This term is used by sound engineers to describe the ambient sound level in your environment. If it is too high, you might be annoyed by the "background noise". Conversely, if it is too low, typical sounds such as people talking in the distance might become a nuisance.
Masking is a way of ensuring privacy, producing a noise level adequate to conceal noises, but not high enough to produce discomfort, with decibel levels generally between 42 to 48 dBA. By doing this, a system can effectively mask sounds, without being a distraction itself.
About 50 million Americans do their job in open plan offices. Cubicles usually make better use of space and improve communication flow, but they are an acoustic challenge. Modern building methods, along with absorptive actions, and quiet machines, have decreased the ambient level of office noise, reducing the volume considerably. An effective solution to the problem is to mask the sound with what is termed "white noise". The main benefit of masking includes reduced conversational distractions and a more relaxed working atmosphere. One example of sound masking occurs when you attempt to talk over the sound of running water. Privacy can also be achieved via masking.